Convertible hand covering system

ABSTRACT

A hand covering configured to enclose a human hand, fingers and thumb, having a dorsal side and a palm side. The hand covering includes a wrist portion and a hand portion. The hand portion includes at least one digit receptacle and a thumb receptacle. An opening is formed in the dorsal side of the hand covering, and extends from a location rearward of the thumb receptacle, across the dorsal side, to a side of the hand covering opposite the thumb receptacle. The opening is configured to allow the digit receptacle and the thumb receptacle to be removed from the digits and thumb of the wearer, while the wrist portion remains attached to the wearer and covers a dorsal side of the wearer&#39;s hand.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to hand coverings such as glovesand mittens.

Gloves and mittens are used to protect and insulate human hands in avariety of environments and uses. For example, work gloves are typicallyconstructed of a sturdy material such as leather that protects thewearer's bare hands from friction, cuts, scrapes, burns and otherinjuries. Ski gloves or mittens, on the other hand, are usually worn toinsulate the wearer's hand in cold climatic conditions.

Both work gloves and ski gloves are bulky in comparison to the wearer'shand. The bulk of the gloves cause the wearer to be less sensitive withrespect to touch and feel of objects picked up by a gloved hand.Consequently, wearing gloves can make deft manipulation of smallobjects, such as car keys, very difficult. For this reason, it is oftennecessary to remove coverings from the hand in order to accomplish tasksthat require use of the fingers and thumb.

However, completely removing a hand covering to accommodate use of thefingers is not always desirable. At times, complete removal of a glovecan only be done at great inconvenience or risk to the wearer. Removinggloves while riding a ski lift, for example, creates a risk of droppinga loose glove from the lift. Additionally, completely removing a workglove in certain industrial environments could expose the worker's handto injury.

In an attempt to address these problems, some gloves or mittens havebeen developed that include various openings positioned to allow thewearer's fingers to be extracted from the glove or mitten withoutremoving the glove or mitten. Other hand coverings have been developedthat include a detachable section that can be removed from the fingers.However, in many instances, exposure of the fingers alone does not givethe hand sufficient exposure to accomplish many tasks. Also, many ofthese known systems do not provide adequate freedom to the fingers toprovide the wearer with sufficient dexterity to manipulate many smallobjects.

SUMMARY

It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a handcovering that can expose the fingers, thumb, and palm of the hand whileremaining attached to the wrist of the wearer. Additionally, it would beadvantageous to maintain coverage of the dorsal side of the hand whenthe fingers, thumb and palm are exposed. Briefly, and in general terms,the invention is directed to a partially removable hand covering forallowing a wearer to use his or her fingers and thumb outside of thecovering without completely removing the covering from the wearer'swrist.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the handcovering can be configured to enclose a human hand, fingers and thumb.The hand covering can have a dorsal side and a palm side. The handcovering can also include a wrist portion and a hand portion. The handportion can include at least one digit receptacle and a thumbreceptacle. An opening can be formed in the dorsal side of the handcovering, and can extend from a location rearward of the thumbreceptacle, across the dorsal side, to a side of the hand coveringopposite the thumb receptacle. The opening can be configured to allowthe digit receptacle and the thumb receptacle to be removed from thedigits and thumb of the wearer, while the wrist portion remains attachedto the wearer and covers a dorsal side of the wearer's hand. In oneaspect of the invention, a closure device can be operably attached tothe opening to allow the opening to be selectively closed and opened bythe wearer.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the methodfor covering a hand while providing selective access to objects by barefingers and a thumb of a wearer can include enclosing the wearer's handwith a hand covering. A closure device can be operably attached to anopening formed in the dorsal side of the hand covering between the handportion and the wrist portion can be opened. The hand covering can beparted at the opening to expose the fingers and thumb of the wearerwhile maintaining coverage of a dorsal portion of the wearer's hand. Thehand covering can be bent about the palm side of the hand coveringdownward from the wearer's hand.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an openablehand covering can be configured to enclose a human hand, fingers andthumb, and can include a dorsal side and a palm side. The openable handcovering can also include a wrist portion and a hand portion. The handportion can include at least one digit receptacle and a thumbreceptacle. An arcuate opening can be formed in the dorsal side of thehand covering between the wrist portion and the hand portion. Thearcuate opening can be configured to allow the digit receptacle and thethumb receptacle to be removed from the digits and thumb of the wearer,respectively, while the wrist portion remains attached to the wearer andcovers a dorsal side of the wearer's hand. A closure device can beoperably attached to the arcuate opening to allow the opening to beselectively closed and opened by the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example,features of the invention; and, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand covering in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left, perspective view of the hand covering of FIG. 1, shownin an open configuration;

FIG. 3 is a top, left perspective view of the hand covering of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention shown in an open configuration; and

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the hand covering of FIG. 4 in aremoved, open configuration.

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, andspecific language will be used herein to describe the same. It willnevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe thesame. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scopeof the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and furthermodifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, andadditional applications of the principles of the inventions asillustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant artand having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered withinthe scope of the invention. The following detailed description andexemplary embodiments of the invention will be best understood byreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the elements andfeatures of the invention are designated by numerals throughout.

The present invention is directed to a hand covering, such as a glove ormitten, configured to allow removal of the fingers and thumb, and exposethe palm of the hand, while at the same time keeping the dorsal part ofthe hand covered, and reducing interference between the hand and thehand covering when the covering is partially removed from the hand. Thehand covering can be used in a variety of applications, includingconstruction environments, manufacturing environments, etc. The handcovering can also be advantageously used, when formed from an insulatedmaterial, in a variety of outdoor activities, such as outdoor worksites, skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, etc.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, an openable hand covering 10 in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be configuredas a mitten which encloses a human hand, fingers and thumb. The handcovering can have a dorsal side 26 and a palm side 30. The hand covering10 can have a wrist portion 14, and a hand portion 22. The hand portioncan include a thumb receptacle 18 and a digit receptacle 34. The handportion 22 can be at least partially integrally joined to the wristportion 14.

As used herein, the term “dorsal side” 26 of the hand covering is to beunderstood to refer to a side of the hand covering that corresponds to aback or dorsal side of a human hand over which the covering is to bedisposed. Similarly, the term “palm side” 30 of the hand covering is tobe understood to refer to the opposing side of the hand covering thatcorresponds to the palm of a human hand over which the covering is to bedisposed. When discussed herein, it is to understood that the handcovering is generally formed of at least two sections: a “hand portion”22 which includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the portion of thehand covering that covers the fingers and the thumb; and a “wristportion” that includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the portionof the hand covering that covers the wrist.

An opening 42 can be formed in the dorsal side 26 of the hand covering10. The opening 42 can extend from a location 46 that is rearward of thethumb receptacle 18, across the dorsal side 26 of the hand covering, andto a side 38 of the hand covering opposite the thumb receptacle. Theopening 42 can allow the digit receptacle 34 and the thumb receptacle 18to be removed from the fingers (54 in FIGS. 2 and 3) and thumb (58 inFIGS. 2 and 3) of the wearer. The opening 42 can be arcuate and canextend across the dorsal side 26 of the hand covering 10 and outwardtoward a fingertip end 32 of the hand covering 10. Additionally, theopening 42 can be shaped to correspond to a profile defined by aproximal knuckle of each finger and the thumb of the wearer's hand. Theopening 42 can have an open position in which the finger and thumbreceptacles are removed from the wearer's fingers and thumb, as shown inFIGS. 2-3, and a closed position as shown in FIG. 1, in which thewearer's fingers and thumbs are covered.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, when removed from the fingers 54 and thumb 58 ofthe wearer, the digit receptacle 34 and thumb receptacle 18 can remainattached to the wrist portion 14, and the wrist portion 14 can remainattached to the wearer. In this manner, the wrist portion 14 canmaintain coverage of the dorsal side 50 of the wearer's hand when thefinger and thumb receptacles 34 and 18 are removed from the wearer'sfingers 54 and thumb 58. The palm side 30 of the hand covering 10 can besubstantially integral with the wrist portion 14. The hand covering 10can be bendable across the hand portion 22 on the palm side 30 to allowthe hand portion 22 of the hand covering 10 to be removed downwardlyfrom the wearer's fingers and thumb. Thus, the finger receptacle 34 andthumb receptacle 18, when removed from the wearer's fingers 54 and thumb58, can be bent away from the palm side 52 of the wearer's hand andtoward the wrist portion 14 of the hand covering 10. In this manner, thefingers and thumb are free to manipulate objects without interference bythe finger and thumb receptacles, which might otherwise dangle directlybelow the fingers and thumb.

In one aspect of the invention a closure device 62 can be operativelyattached to the opening 42. The closure device 46 can selectively openor close the opening 42. It will be appreciated that, while the closuredevice is generally shown in FIGS. 1-5 as a zipper, other suitableclosure devices as known in the art may also be used. For example theclosure device could be a hook-and-loop fastener, a clasp, a button, aflexible cord, snaps, or an overlapping flap of hand covering material.

A securing device 64 can be operatively coupled to the wrist portion 14.The securing device 64 can be operable to temporarily secure the handportion 22 beneath the wrist portion 14. In the secured position,interference between the hand portion 22 and the wearer's bare fingers54 and thumb 58 is reduced when the hand portion 22 is removed from thewearer's fingers 54 and thumb 58, and the hand portion 22 is bent towardthe wrist portion 14. It will be appreciated that, while the securingstrap is generally shown as a stretchable chord, other suitable securingdevices as known in the art may also be used. For example the securingdevice could be a hook-and-loop fastener, a clasp, a button, a flexiblecord, a snap, etc. In one aspect of the invention, a releasable strap(31 in FIG. 3) can be provided that operates to cinch the wrist portionabout the wrist of a wearer during “normal,” use and can be releasedfrom this position and wrapped about the hand portion when foldedbeneath the wrist portion and re-cinched about both the wrist portionand the hand portion to secure the hand portion out of the way of thefingers and thumb. The releasable strap can be secured in both positionswith a buckle, hook-and-loop and fastener, etc. The releasable strap canalso be formed of or include an elastic material to allow the strap tostretch and more tightly secure the hand covering sections.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a hand covering 100 is shown in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, thehand covering is configured as a glove which encloses a human hand,fingers and thumb. The hand covering 100 is shown with the opening 146in the open position. In this embodiment, the hand portion 122 includesa plurality of finger receptacles 134 and a thumb receptacle 118. Theopening 146 can extend rearwardly through the wrist portion 114 andterminate at a wrist opening 164 of the covering. The closure device 162can extend the length of the opening 146 to open or close some or all ofthe opening.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a pair of hand coverings 210 is shown each in afully open position. In this embodiment, the opening 146 extends fromone side 138 of the hand covering 110, rearwardly through the wristportion 114 and terminates at a wrist opening 164 of the covering. Inthis manner, an inside 168 of the hand coverings 210 can besubstantially completely exposed when the opening 146 is in an openposition. This embodiment is advantageous in that an openable handcovering is provided that also has the benefit of being fully openableto vent the inside of the hand coverings. This configuration can beadvantageously utilized to dry the internal portions of the handcoverings after becoming wet with perspiration, rain, snow, etc.

While not shown in the figures, in one aspect of the invention, the handcovering can include an inner liner disposed between the hand coveringand the wearer's hand. The liner can be formed of a soft, relativelyabsorbent material to facilitate absorption of moisture from within theglove to aid in removing perspiration, water, etc., from contact withthe wearer's hand. The inner liner can include an opening similar inshape and function to the opening 42 to allow the liner to beselectively removed from the wearer's digits while still covering thedorsal side of the wearer's hand.

In addition to the structure discussed above, the present invention alsoprovides a method for covering a hand while providing selective accessto objects by bare fingers and a thumb of a wearer. The method caninclude the step of enclosing the wearer's hand with a hand coveringthat can have a dorsal side and a palm side and can include a wristportion and a hand portion. A closure device can be operably attached toan opening formed in the dorsal side of the hand covering between thehand portion and the wrist portion can be opened. The method can includethe step of parting the hand covering at the opening to expose thefingers and thumb of the wearer while maintaining coverage of a dorsalportion of the wearer's hand. The method can include the step of bendingthe hand covering about the palm side of the hand covering downwardlyfrom the wearer's hand.

While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of thepresent invention in one or more particular applications, it will beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerousmodifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be madewithout the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing fromthe principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is notintended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims setforth below.

1. An openable hand covering configured to enclose a human hand, fingersand thumb, the hand covering having a dorsal side and a palm side andcomprising: a wrist portion and a hand portion, the hand portionincluding at least one digit receptacle and a thumb receptacle; and acurved opening, formed in the dorsal side of the hand covering,extending from a location rearward of a base of the thumb receptacle,across the dorsal side, to a side of the hand covering opposite thethumb receptacle, the opening being configured to allow the digitreceptacle and the thumb receptacle to be removed from the digits andthumb of the wearer, respectively, while the wrist portion remainsattached to the wearer and covers a dorsal side of the wearer's hand. 2.The hand covering of claim 1, further comprising a closure device,operably attached to the opening to allow the opening to be selectivelyclosed and opened by the wearer.
 3. The hand covering of claim 1,wherein the palm side of the hand covering is substantially integral andwherein the hand covering is bendable across the palm side to allow thehand portion of the covering to be removed downwardly from the wearer'sfingers and thumb.
 4. The hand covering of claim 1, wherein the openingis arcuate and extends across the dorsal side of the covering andoutward toward a fingertip end of the covering.
 5. The hand covering ofclaim 4, wherein the opening is shaped to correspond to a profiledefined by a proximal knuckle of each finger and the thumb of thewearer's hand.
 6. The hand covering of claim 1, further comprising: asecuring device, operatively coupled to the wrist portion, the securingdevice being operable to temporarily secure the hand portion beneath thewrist portion to limit interference with the wearer's bare fingers andthumb when the hand portion is removed from the wearer's fingers andthumbs.
 7. The hand covering of claim 1, wherein the opening extendsfrom one side of the covering, rearwardly through the wrist portion andterminates at a wrist opening of the covering to allow an inside of thecovering to be exposed when the opening is in an opened configuration.8. An openable hand covering configured to enclose a human hand, fingersand thumb, the hand covering having a dorsal side and a palm side andcomprising: a wrist portion and a hand portion, the hand portionincluding at least one digit receptacle and a thumb receptacle; and anarcuate opening, formed in the dorsal side of the hand covering betweenthe wrist portion and the hand portion, the opening being configured toallow the digit receptacle and the thumb receptacle to be removed fromthe digits and thumb of the wearer, respectively, while the wristportion remains attached to the wearer and covers a dorsal side of thewearer's hand.
 9. The hand covering of claim 8, further comprising aclosure device, operably attached to the arcuate opening to allow theopening to be selectively closed and opened by the wearer.
 10. The handcovering of claim 8, wherein the palm side of the hand covering issubstantially integral and wherein the hand covering is bendable acrossthe palm section to allow the hand portion of the covering to be removeddownwardly from the wearer's fingers and thumb.
 11. The hand covering ofclaim 8, wherein the opening extends across the dorsal side of thecovering and outwardly toward a fingertip end of the covering.
 12. Thehand covering of claim 11, wherein the opening is shaped to correspondto a profile defined by a proximal knuckle of each finger and the thumbof the wearer's hand.
 13. The hand covering of claim 8, furthercomprising: a securing strap, operatively coupled to the wrist portion,the securing strap being operable to temporarily secure the digitportion beneath the wrist portion to limit interference with thewearer's bare fingers and thumb when the hand portion is removed fromthe wearer's fingers and thumbs.
 14. The hand covering of claim 11,wherein the opening extends from one side of the covering, rearwardlythrough the wrist portion and terminates at a wrist opening of thecovering to allow an inside of the covering to be exposed when theopening is in an opened configuration.
 15. A method for covering a handwhile providing selective access to objects by bare fingers and a thumbof a wearer, comprising the steps of: enclosing the wearer's hand with ahand covering, the hand covering having a dorsal side and a palm sideand including a wrist portion and a hand portion; opening a closuredevice operably attached to an opening formed in the dorsal side of thehand covering between the hand portion and the wrist portion; partingthe hand covering at the opening to expose substantially all of thefingers and thumb of the wearer, and substantially all of a palm of thewearer, while maintaining coverage of a dorsal portion of the wearer'shand; and bending the hand covering about the palm side of the handcovering downward from the wearer's hand.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the step of opening a closure device operably attached to anopening includes the step of opening a closure device operably attachedto an opening extending across the dorsal side of the hand covering andoutwardly toward a fingertip end of the hand covering.
 17. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the step of opening a closure device operably attachedto an opening includes the step of opening a closure device operablyattached to an opening shaped to correspond to a profile defined by aproximal knuckle of each finger and the thumb of the wearer's hand. 18.The method of claim 15, wherein the step of opening a closure deviceoperably attached to an opening includes the step of opening a closuredevice selected from the group consisting of: a hook-and-loop fastener,a zipper, a clasp, and a button.
 19. The method of claim 15, comprisingthe further step of: securing a strap operatively coupled to the wristportion about the digit portion of the hand covering to limitinterference with the wearer's bare fingers and thumb when the handportion is removed from the wearer's fingers and thumbs.
 20. The methodof claim 15, wherein the step of opening a closure device operablyattached to an opening includes the step of opening a closure deviceoperably attached to an opening extending from one side of the covering,rearwardly through the wrist portion and terminates at a wrist openingof the covering to allow an inside of the covering to be exposed whenthe opening is in an opened configuration.
 21. An openable hand coveringconfigured to enclose a human hand, fingers and thumb, the hand coveringhaving a dorsal side and a palm side and comprising: a wrist portion anda hand portion, the hand portion including at least one digit receptacleand a thumb receptacle; and a substantially continuously curved opening,formed in the dorsal side of the hand covering between the wrist portionand the hand portion, the opening being configured to allow the digitreceptacle and the thumb receptacle to be removed from the digits andthumb of the wearer, respectively, while the wrist portion remainsattached to the wearer and covers a dorsal side of the wearer's hand.22. An openable hand covering configured to enclose a human hand,fingers and thumb, the hand covering having a dorsal side and a palmside and comprising: a wrist portion and a hand portion, the handportion including at least one digit receptacle and a thumb receptacle;and an opening, formed in the dorsal side of the hand covering betweenthe wrist portion and the hand portion, the opening being configured toallow the digit receptacle and the thumb receptacle to be removed fromthe digits and thumb of the wearer, respectively, while the wristportion remains attached to the wearer and covers a dorsal side of thewearer's hand; the hand covering including at least two configurations:a first, closed configuration in which the hand, fingers and thumb ofthe wearer are covered by the hand covering; and a second, openconfiguration in which substantially all of the fingers of the wearerand substantially all of the palm of the wearer are exposed while thedorsal side of the wearer's hand remains covered.